Tokyo in Half a Day: Asakusa — Guide Koba
July, 2024
This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- 10:00 Meet at Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro
- 10:30 Buy tickets at Ikebukuro Station
- 11:10 East Gardens of the Imperial Palace
- 12:10 Asakusa
- 13:30 Disband at Asakusa
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 10:00 at Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro and ended at 13:30. The day ran to 3 hours and 30 minutes from start to finish.
Over the course of the day the route took in Buy tickets at Ikebukuro Station at 10:30, East Gardens of the Imperial Palace at 11:10 and Asakusa at 12:10.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Ikebukuro to Otemachi by train (209JPY); Otemachi to Asakusa by train (178JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 387JPY per person.
Title: What Is a Private Half-Day Asakusa Tour in Tokyo Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
Due to the very hot weather and the guests' request to visit only Asakusa, I guided them with plenty of time to spare. Since the transfer from Ikebukuro to Asakusa passes through Otemachi, I suggested viewing the Imperial Palace from indoors. I also asked about their upcoming plans, and learned that they were heading to Kiso-Fukushima but had not yet purchased tickets, and that they would be in Tokyo for a few days and wished to have a subway pass. Therefore, we purchased JR tickets and a 72-hour Tokyo subway pass at Ikebukuro Station before heading to Otemachi. I guided them inside the Palace Building, but as the guests wished to enter the East Gardens, I took them to the rest area inside and had their pamphlet stamped. As expected, Asakusa was quite hot, but I lent them a parasol to help them cope. Since the guests planned to have lunch on their own, we parted ways near the Nakamise shopping street.
Click here for more details: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Ikebukuro～Otemachi | 209JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Otemachi～Asakusa | 178JPY |
| Total | 387JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Tokyo tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Hotel Metropolitan Tokyo Ikebukuro at 10:00, and the tour finished at Asakusa at 13:30.
How long does the tour last?
About 3 hours and 30 minutes in total, from 10:00 to 13:30.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Buy tickets at Ikebukuro Station, East Gardens of the Imperial Palace and Asakusa.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 387JPY per person across 2 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Koba is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Tokyo itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
My name is Eiji Kobayashi (Mr.), and I will be your guide during your stay in Tokyo.
Please call me Koba.
Allow me to introduce myself. I am a National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter of Japan and an expert in Japanese history and culture, and also in nursing and health. I usually work as a Public Health Nurse (PHN) at a Public Health Center in Tokyo, and I hold a Registered Nurse (RN) license. Additionally, I have a Ph.D. in medical science.
Born in 1957 and raised in Tokyo, I have worked for 33 years mainly in the research and development area for some pharmaceutical companies. Then, I changed my career to nursing and entered a university to obtain a PHN and RN license. I took the Licensed Guide for preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and volunteered in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2021.
Jul 21, 2026
scottsD8777AR
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Great Touring Tokyo
Koba is an excellent tour guide. We greatly…
Jul 21, 2026
scottsD8777AR
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Half-Day Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Great Touring Tokyo
Koba is an excellent tour guide. We greatly appreciated his knowledge of the history of Tokyo and Japan and his very pleasant demeanor. He is a true gentleman and was a pleasure to tour with in Tokyo.
Jul 9, 2026
Quest36994121691
First visit to Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
This was our first visit…
Jul 9, 2026
Quest36994121691
First visit to Tokyo
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
This was our first visit to Tokyo, and our tour with Koba made the experience truly exceptional. We’re a family of four with two teenage boys (14 and 16), and Koba was wonderfully kind, patient, and engaging with each of us. The experience started even before we arrived—his first communications laid out a thoughtful, customized itinerary that perfectly matched our interests as first-time visitors. Our six hours together were full, seamless, and incredibly rewarding. Koba’s deep knowledge of the city, his attention to detail, and his warm, easygoing approach made the tour an ideal fit for our family. It was the perfect way to get a broad yet meaningful introduction to Tokyo in a short time. We’re so grateful he was our guide and highly recommend him to anyone visiting the city.
Jul 8, 2026
Χρονης Π
A beautiful tour
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
It was a perfect experience…
Jul 8, 2026
Χρονης Π
A beautiful tour
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo Customized Private Tour in 1 Day with Licensed Guide
It was a perfect experience see learned a lot about Tokyo and our guide Koba was perfect in every way and very helpful. We had a perfect time together.Thank you Koba
Jul 5, 2026
I3699SBjonathanw
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
6hr Tokyo guide great experience
Koba was so nice to my family…
Jul 5, 2026
I3699SBjonathanw
Tripadvisor review: Tokyo 6hr Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
6hr Tokyo guide great experience
Koba was so nice to my family and I. He was patient and helped carry a large toy my daughter won. I wished we had another day. Having a guide saved us hours of navigating the subway and metro.